The Ministers to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council’s 12th meeting at Bagan, Myanmar on September 30 agreed to undertakemaximum efforts to shape the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community by 2015.

Speaking at the meeting, themed “Moving forward in unity to apeaceful and prosperous community”, Dr. SaiMauk Kham, Vice President ofMyanmar, highlighted the importance of the event in a joint effort tobuild a people-oriented and socially responsible community by 2015. Healso underscored the need for a long-term vision to achieve enduringsolidarity and unity among the member states and their people.

During the Plenary, the Ministers acknowledged the report submittedby the Chair of the 17 th SOCA Meeting, which included the progressmade by the ASCC Working Group to Follow-Up on the Recommendations ofthe ASCC Blueprint MTR and Coordinate Post-2015 Vision, as well as, therecommendations of the High Level Task Force on Strengthening the ASEANSecretariat and Reviewing the ASEAN organs.

In thisconnection, the Ministers supported the draft ASEAN Joint Statement onClimate Change 2014, which is expected to be adopted by the leadersduring the 25 th ASEAN Summit on November 25 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

The Ministers welcomed Myanmar’s proposal on the establishment ofthe ASEAN Institute for Green Economy in Yangon, Myanmar and also agreedin principle to the proposal on framing the ASCC Post 2015, a reviewexercise presented by the ASEAN Secretariat.-VNA